Lugia
Lugia-Origin.png
Pokémon (universe)
Lugia's official artwork from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Games Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Move Aeroblast
Rarity Rare
Article on Bulbapedia Lugia (Pokémon)
It launches a vortex of air from the back of the screen, affecting a certain area of the stage. It’s relatively easy to dodge, but the launch power is high if you get hit.
Pokémon Encyclopedia, Smash Bros. DOJO!!

Lugia (ルギア, Lugia) is a fictional creature in the Pokémon media franchise. It appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon in Melee, Brawl, Smash 4 and Ultimate.

Origin

 
Lugia's official artwork from Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Lugia is a Psychic/Flying-type Legendary Pokémon and the version mascot of Pokémon Silver and Pokémon SoulSilver. It is heavily associated with the sea and often slumbers in the depths. While not being a Water-type it can learn several Water-type moves. In the National Pokédex, it is registered as #249 and known as the "Diving Pokémon".

Aeroblast is a special Flying-type move with 100 base power, 95% accuracy and an increased chance of dealing a critical hit. It is Lugia's signature move, and thus the only Pokémon able to learn it naturally. Stat-wise, Lugia has great Special Defense, Defense and Speed, but its offensive stats are average, especially for a Legendary Pokémon.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

 
Lugia as it appeared in Melee.

Lugia uses Aeroblast as its attack. When summoned, Lugia will remain on the screen for a few seconds, and then fly off the screen to the background of the stage (similar to the movement of Ho-Oh). Lugia will release an Aeroblast that will travel around the stage in a random pattern (circular/left to right or right to left/sweeping the ground and vice versa), that will move towards the direction of the summoner's opponents.

Before Lugia flies off into the background to perform Aeroblast, any character that makes contact with Lugia will take 30% damage and sustain extremely high vertical knockback, similar to touching Moltres's wings. Though Lugia's body hitbox is not as powerful as Moltres', it covers a larger area due to Lugia's much larger size. Aeroblast has multiple hits, allowing this attack to be escapable with very quick and precise SDI, though extremely difficult to do so and survive. Aeroblast can inflict up to 440% in a little over 2 seconds, with each hitbox dealing 20% in damage. The knockback inflicted by Aeroblast is extreme, which combined with the massive damage it deals, allows it to invariably OHKO a player trapped in it unless they can tech a wall or ceiling. However, the first hit of Aeroblast can whiff if the opponents are hit at the left or right endpoint of its range. Even a player gets hit once instead of multiples hits, a single hit has enough knockback to KO at a low percentage, but not to OHKO. However due to its diagonal angle, DI'ing down and away cause this attack KO'ing at early-mid percent (50% onwards). Neither attack of Lugia's can harm the summoner.

Lugia is arguably the best Pokémon in Melee, as its huge body hitbox KOs well under 100%, and its Aeroblast OHKOs, while covering a very large area (for example, a Lugia summoned in the center of Battlefield would be able to strike anywhere onstage with Aeroblast). It is also possible for Lugia to KO the same opponent twice (from touching it before it flies off, and then getting hit by Aeroblast), which is the only Pokémon in Melee with this capability.

Due to Lugia being a Legendary Pokémon, the chance of summoning Lugia is rare, with only Mew and Celebi being rarer Pokémon. However, the chance of Lugia appearing out of a Poké Ball is greatly increased in the event match Legendary Pokémon.

Trophy

Lugia features as a collectible trophy, unlocked as one of the 100+ trophies that can be collected randomly during normal play, such as in the Trophy Lottery and throughout the various Single-player Regular Matches, though it only appears once 200 VS matches have been played. It reads as follows:

 
The Lugia trophy in Melee.
Lugia
The waters of the Whirl Islands are home to this legendary Pokémon, whom few have seen. Lugia lives quietly in the deepest ocean trenches for one very good reason: its combined aerial and psychic powers are so strong as to be extremely dangerous. The special moves of this gargantuan creature include the destructive wind assault known as Aeroblast.
  • Pokémon Gold & Silver, 10/00

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

 
Lugia on Yoshi's Island.

Lugia reprises its role from Super Smash Bros. Melee. When it emerges out of its Poké Ball, it will fly into the background and use Aeroblast, as it did in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but with a more detailed blast. In some fields Lugia was significantly nerfed in Brawl; the first such nerf is that touching it pulls the player away, avoiding multiple hits in most cases (though it can still star KO opponents much above 100%). It is possible to chain each hit for a star KO, but it usually works at middle to high damages. In some situations a perfect chain can grant OHKO, but it’s random. Its Aeroblast still invariably OHKOs, but only in a single hit; the primary change, in fact, is that opponents hit by it will only sustain one hit before getting knocked out of it, instead of taking every powerful hit in the attack before being launched, preventing the ridiculous damage output it dealt in Melee. It additionally covers a smaller area, making it more difficult for opponents to get hit by it. However, Aeroblast is still extremely powerful, guaranteed OHKO, also Lugia’s body can KO light characters at damages as low as 35%, and despite some nerfs, it is still one of the most useful Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Trophy

This trophy can be found randomly during normal play, including the Coin Launcher.

 
The Lugia trophy in Brawl.
Lugia
A Diving Pokémon. A legendary Pokémon often referred to as "guardian of the seas," it has the impressive ability to control the wind. Lugia typically spends its time quietly at the bottom of the ocean. Highly powerful in all areas, Lugia's Aeroblast move is especially powerful. It uses strong flapping of its wings to target damage on a foe's weak spot.
 : Pokémon Gold/Silver
 : Pokémon Crystal

Sticker

Name Game Effect Character(s)
Lugia Pokémon series   Attack +22  
 
Lugia
(Pokémon series)

In Super Smash Bros. 4

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

 
Lugia using Aeroblast in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Lugia returns to the Smash series for a third time, once more using its Aeroblast upon being released from a Poké Ball. It is severely nerfed from the two previous game and no longer OHKOs, although dealing very high damage (up to 270%). Like other legendary Pokémon it can also appear out of a Master Ball.

Trophy

 
The Lugia trophy in for Wii U
 
The Lugia trophy in for 3DS
Lugia
  Despite being a Psychic/Flying-type Pokémon, Lugia sleeps on the ocean floor. Legend says the flapping of Lugia's wings can create storms that last up to 40 days. It's impossible to know for sure, but in Smash Bros., Lugia definitely brings a storm with its Aeroblast attack.
  Despite being a Psychic- and Flying-type, Lugia sleeps on the ocean floor. It's said that if it were to flap its wings on waking up, it could cause a storm lasting 40 days. No one can say whether that's true or not, but Lugia's attacks certainly make it seem so. It flies behind the stage and creates a mighty gust of wind with its Aeroblast attack.
 : Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver (10/2000)
 : Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver (03/2010)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

Lugia returns as a Poké Ball summon.

Lugia cannot be summoned on 3D Land, Arena Ferox, Brinstar, Corneria, Dream Land GB, Frigate Orpheon, Gerudo Valley, Hyrule Castle, Living Room, Luigi's Mansion, Magicant, Mario Circuit, Mario Galaxy, Mushroom Kingdom U, Mushroomy Kingdom, Pac-Land, Paper Mario, Prism Tower, Reset Bomb Forest, Skyloft, Skyworld, Super Mario Maker, Suzaku Castle, Temple, The Great Cave Offensive, Tortimer Island, Umbra Clock Tower, Unova Pokemon League, Wario Ware Inc., or Wrecking Crew.

Spirit

No. Image Name Type Class Slot Ability Series
484 Lugia ★★★ 2 Water Attack ↑ Pokémon Series

Gallery

Trivia

  • Lugia is one of four legendary Poké Ball Pokémon to appear in every installment since Melee, the other three being Moltres, Entei, and Suicune.